News: 12 October 2022

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

• The ticketing mess of Bangkok’s rail transit

This is part 2 of the “mess” of bangkok’s urban rail transit. There are 3 railway operators issuing their own ticketing systems. It’s a mess that needs to be fixed.

• Hanoi construction update – 2022 edition

This is my trip report from my recent visit to Hanoi, featuring construction progress at some of the new urban areas in Hanoi.

Future Southeast Asia around the web

I did an interview with Gary Bowerman at The South East Asia Travel Show, talking about some of my favourite topics: travel, infrastructure, and Southeast Asia:

• Ep 152: ASEAN's New Era of Travel Infrastructure, with James Clark, Future South East Asia

News

• Southeast Asian borrowers could ‘feel pressure’ over belt and road debts to China amid IMF scrutiny

“Revelation of debt details could attract criticism, result in project delays in countries such as Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia, analysts note.”

• Taiwanese companies in China flocking to Southeast Asia: survey

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• $20 million Kampot tourist port completed

• Cambodia’s elites swallow up Phnom Penh’s lakes, leaving the poor marooned

• How can Siem Reap expand into the future?

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• IKN Authority striving to make Nusantara loveable, liveable

[Updated: Nusantara - New Capital City of Indonesia]

• Pay To Pass: Bali village sets up toll system for private road

🇱🇦 Laos

• Waterside market in Golden Triangle SEZ now 50 percent complete

• Through Thanaleng Dry Port: Biggest block train loaded with 25 FEU (40 feet equivalent unit) of freight from Thailand’s Map Ta Phut made its way to China’s Chongqing

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• Budget 2023: RM95b for development, the biggest ever

• MRT Putrajaya Phase 2 to start migration tests from Oct 10 to Dec, says Rapid Rail CEO

• Invest more in enhancing transportation at East Coast, Sabah and Sarawak, says industry player

• Phase One of the Gurney Wharf project to be ready in March 2023

🇲🇲 Myanmar

• Regime seizes land In Taunggyi township for railway line

🇵🇭 Philippines

• Gov't inks deals for South Commuter Railway project

• PH, China agree to restart talks on P276-b railway loan

• DOTr targets completion of P1-trillion airport projects by next year

• Philippine tycoon postpones US$474 million Prime Infrastructure IPO on bearish market

🇸🇬 Singapore

• 11 Thomson-East Coast Line stations to open on Nov 13; free rides available on Nov 11 

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Thailand-Laos railway project steams ahead, operations to start in mid-2023

"In the second phase starting from 2024, the SRT will extend the route to Udon Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima stations, with two trains running daily from Nakhon Ratchasima to Vientiane Khamsavath and back."

• Thailand plans $131 million Phuket medical hub to boost tourism

• A look at the new trains earmarked for use on Hua Hin dual track line

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Unfinished business: Vietnam's long-awaited urban commuter rail

• Hanoi begins $55-mln infrastructure project for better metro line accessibility

• Hà Nội looks to develop satellite cities

• Funding issue leaves section of trans-Vietnam route in limbo for 13 years

• HCMC to get military land this month for new airport terminal

• Property developer Van Thinh Phat’s chairwoman arrested for bond fraud

This story is still unfolding, but it could mean that some big developments are going to grind to a halt.